The CT Trolley Museum guys posted an interesting question to OneLapper and me. They are in the early stages of designing PD4106-1616's Connecticut Company livery paint job. In comparing -1616 to a historical photo of a CT Co PD4106 they're using to drive their design, they noticed that the bus in their photo had aluminum fluting around the passenger widows - and an additional trim piece below. Neither -1616 (a very early '63) nor Mark's bus (a later '63) has this. I know I have seen it on a 1965.

Questions:1.) Was this a trim option, something that was added to the later coaches - or something that might have been on -1616 but was later removed?2.) Does anyone know of any 4106s being scrapped (preferably here out East) that might have those parts on it? If the pieces are available, it would be a nice-to-have.

I've attached the CT Co 4106 photograph as well as one of -1616 (with Mark watching me try to electrocute myself) to try to illustrate what we're talking about. Any help would be appreciated.

My 4106 (1885) has the trim you speak of however as RJ pointed out they where an option for each buyer. Mine came from Las Vegas/Tonopah/ Reno Stage lines and was never a "hound". You may have to have them made, finding them on the "street" will shurly be a difficult task.

I have a couple of these fluted panels I'd be willing to sell. They are the ones that fit between the "D" window and the first slider. The driver's side one is in good shape. The passenger side one has some small dents from the inside that shouldn't be too hard to repair.

Bob, thanks for the offer and pictures, right now we'll keep looking for a full set - if there even is one. That said, Mark noted to me off-line that getting the trim off an existing bus would mean having to remove the interior walls to get at the fasteners holding the trim in place. Does not sound like fun.

Not a world-ender, for sure, I'm sure the project can go full-steam ahead with or without the trim, indeed very few would know enough about the old buses to notice it's missing on this one. If I had to make the call right now it sounds like they should just order more blue paint, but we'll try a little more.

Does the museum have any later pics of their fleet? Many fleets repainted the area between the side sash in black in later years. If you could find a pic of the fleet circa mid/late '70s > '90s you could duplicate that and still be "correct."

Unless, of course, they want it "as delivered new."

If you look at my avatar here, and then look at my avatar over on BNO, you'll see the same bus with different paint.

Personally, I really like the '04 and '06 with the black window treatment. . .

RJ - Good question, not sure if the blackout treatment is an option; I do have another picture but I think it's even earlier (#1901 - wearing whitewalls! - see attached). I've asked if they'd just like to paint -1616 as delivered new to Hudson Transit Corp. in Mahway, NJ - but then it wouldn't match the rest of their fleet, which is all Connecticut Co. More as it comes... Thanks again, Brad

Did you ever find a set, I may be able to get you all the pieces between the windows, just not the bottom piece because I need that for me

Nope, they never did find all the pieces. They ended up repainting the bus as it is. I was up at the museum late November lending a hand with an over charging issue. This spring they should rolling it out of the garage...........

The parts bus has all three, the back Window I think he wants 500 for all 3 plus the seals. I was going to get but decided my mold is good enough. I asked him about the other parts and still waiting to hear back. Cheers